Device for cleaning hulls of ships.



No. 630,260. Patented Aug. l, |899. G. A. MCLANE.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING HULLS 0F SHIPS.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1899.)

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GEORGE ALVAI-I MCLANE, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING HULLS OF SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,260, dated August1, 1899.

Application filed February 7, 1899. Serial No.704,843. (No model.)

To (AZZ Inh/0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALvAH Mo- LANE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, (Brooklym) county of 5 Kings, andState of- New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDevices for Cleaning the Ilulls of Ships, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved device for cleaning the hulls ofships, the object being to provide means for removing barnacles, grass,or any other foreign substance which may adhere to the shipss bottornirrespective of the ships draft.

All ships,whether constructed of iron or of wood sheathed with copper,are subject to a retarding influence of marine growth, barnacles, andthe like, which adheres to the bottom when the paint has worn oif or thecopper sheathing has become old.

This invention provides a device which may be carried by any ship andoperated in any port at any time by a few men.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows the device in operativeposition. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the belt. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of same.

A cross-section of the ships hull ais shown in outline with the keelattached. A belt c, preferably formed of a non-corrosive me- /tallicnetwork,is endless and passes over suit- Links e connect two of 4o theserollers, one belonging to each belt, and when the device is in operativeposition this link e rests against the under side of the keel b. Therollers d d, which are not linked together, are journaled in suitablestandards fj', which may be mounted upon astage slung over the shipsside or may be mounted in a scoW or boat h. A winch j, mounted upon saidstage or in said scow, is adapted to revolve the rollers d d, carryingthe belt c.

The belt c has a series of Scrapers 7c 7a fixed thereto, preferably atregular intervals, and between said Scrapers a series of brushes m m,preferably of wire and interwoven with the mesh of the belt itself, arefixed.

In the operation of the device the belts, linked together, are slungover the bow or stern andbrought under the ships bottom, the link eresting upon the keel. The Winches are then operated, and the belt inpassing along the dead-rise and bilge will scrape and brush off anyforeign matter adhering thereto. As soon as one section has been in thismanner cleaned the stage or boat is moved forward or aft a distanceequal to the Width of the belt c and the operation repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A device for cleaning a ships hull embodying an endless belt of wiremesh provided with a series of Scrapers and brushes alternating upon itsouter face, rollers over which said belt runs, means for holding one ofsaid rollers below the Water-line, anda Winch for revolving the otherroller, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 4th day of Febd ruary, 1899.

GEORGE ALVAH MCLANE. lVitnesses:

ROBERT A. WILLIAMS, B. MoCoMB.

